Operations Research/ Industrial Engineering 2010

[kivo2004]

@testarossa - You will get into Columbia for sure. I'm trying to decide between the two schools as well. Actually, I was just looking at the curriculum at Stanford right before I saw your post. There really isn't much of a difference between the two programs. They're both top-notch. The biggest criterion for me is the job placement ratio. However, the stats are very skewed and misleading considering the on-going financial crisis. I just got off the phone with a friend who finished Stanford MS&E undergrad in 09' and she told me that it took her 6 months to get a job after graduation. That really petrifies me.

[pittman]

Hello everyone!

I have just got accepted for a non-funded MS in Stanford MS&E and a MS+PhD in Industrial Engineering in Purdue whose funding status is yet unknown. I wish all the others here all the very best for their results!

Also it seems like a LOT of people have got admitted into the MS&E program this year. Does anybody have any views on just how good MS&E from Stanford really is after trying to shell out all that money for it? Is it really worth the trouble? Or should one be happy with some partial funding from Purdue?

Thanks a lot for your help!

[wifey99999999]

@testarossa - You will get into Columbia for sure. I'm trying to decide between the two schools as well. Actually, I was just looking at the curriculum at Stanford right before I saw your post. There really isn't much of a difference between the two programs. They're both top-notch. The biggest criterion for me is the job placement ratio. However, the stats are very skewed and misleading considering the on-going financial crisis. I just got off the phone with a friend who finished Stanford MS&E undergrad in 09' and she told me that it took her 6 months to get a job after graduation. That really petrifies me.

There is a subtle difference though. For the Stanford program, they require 45 units to complete the program, which is about 15 courses (most of their courses are 3-unit). For the Columbia program, they require 30 points for MSOR (10 courses), 36 points for MSFE (12 courses). Clearly, it would take more coursework to finish Stanford program. Though Stanford is on quarter system, and Columbia is on semester.

[wifey99999999]

Why do you want to know the name of the school? No offense ....

Assuming you want to know because you'd like to evaluate the competitiveness of each applicant, I personally think there is no differences knowing the name of the school. To admission committee, all top schools and schools from ivy leagues are the same. Saying that you are from Harvard or Yale or Cornell doesn't make much difference to them. Likewise, saying you are from Cal State, Penn State, or Michigan State also doesn't make much difference to them either .....

THe name of the undergraduate school definitely matters. For example, a GPA of 3.5 from a school like Ohio State or Penn State would mean different thing than a GPA of 3.5 from a school like Cal State-Los Angeles. Similarly, a GPA of 3.5 from UC-Berkeley is different from a GPA of 3.5 from UC-Riverside. These are all "Big State Schools". But the rigor of academics is clearly different.

For example, check out the FAQ section on GaTech's website... :

Q: My undergraduate GPA is a 3.2 but it was earned in a very tough program. Will you consider that in making the admission decision?

Of course---if we can. There is little doubt that there can be substantial variation across programs and institutions relative to grading standards and the level of competition, i.e., 3.9's from some places can mean far less than 3.2's from others. Still, trying to analyze/assess these sorts of institutional and program variations is very difficult; we try our best.

[sapling]

Hey guys,

So I got accepted to the MS&E MS program today and I have a few questions:

1. I see they allow core substitutions. However they don't seem to allow or mention substitutions I'd like to make. For example I'd like to take Theory of Probability in the math dept. instead of Probabilistic Analysis and Microecon core instead of Economic Analysis and Advanced Economic Analysis. Does anybody know if they allow these substitutions?

2. If you're in the MS program how hard is it to get into the PhD the following year?

Thanks a bunch y'alls. Best of luck to all those still waiting

Q2: If the curruculum of MS program is much like that in PhD program, it is very easy to get into the PhD in following year(My friend was once admitted into MS program in Stanford Statistics, and he became a PhD candidate in the second year). But if the MS program is job-oriented, it is hard. (e.g. Masters in Columbia IEOR are not so easy to switch to the PhD program.)

[floyd]

Just got wait-listed by Cornell. Doesn't sound very optimistic, but a little less harsh than a flat rejection.

[18apples]

Just got wait-listed by Cornell. Doesn't sound very optimistic, but a little less harsh than a flat rejection.

i am tired of waiting..

[pirpirella]

Just got that flat rejection from Cornell

Good luck to you guys who are still waiting!

[Deleted]

Just got that flat rejection from Cornell

Good luck to you guys who are still waiting!

Sorry to hear that. Actually not that sorry 'cause you got into Bekeley, which was my dream school . Congrats on that one!

[Deleted]

Just got that rejection myself

[ipmser]

Just got that rejection myself

At least you got NU. So be happy. Chicago has more fun than Ithaca. LOL.

Just curious anyone here get accepted by Cornell?

Edited March 12, 2010 by ipmser

[martizzle]

1:35pm: email from Cornell - Rejected (PhD)....do you want to be considered for M.Eng? [Emailed yes, pls do consider me for that...perhaps I can use that to get a job...work for a couple years and apply for PhD then (and get it...idk)]

2:52pm: email from Columbia - Rejected (PhD)....no offer of MS consideration or anything...

I guess today was really the day of reckoning (for Cornell/Columbia applicants)...I just want to be accepted into anything, anywhere at this point. i don't think i care too much whether its a cash cow program or not lol

[martizzle]

ps...good luck to those of you still in the loop (wait-listed) and congrats to the 'acceptees' (i doubt that's a word lol)

[pirpirella]

Just got that rejection myself

Sorry on that :/ I think today was a round on rejections by Cornell. And you have Northwestern, which is great, so don't worry Btw Chicago >>>> Ithaca (as far as I know)

[Adeel]

Hello Everyone!

This is my first post. I am seeking your help for a tough decision on my final destination.

I've got 3 admits (Cornell, Stanford and GA Tech).

Which Program would you recommend out of these 3? Cornell is offering me $5000 fellowship as well. But, personally Stanford seems too hard to resist!

Looking forward to your replies...

Thank You!

[martizzle]

Hello Everyone!

This is my first post. I am seeking your help for a tough decision on my final destination.

I've got 3 admits (Cornell, Stanford and GA Tech).

Which Program would you recommend out of these 3? Cornell is offering me $5000 fellowship as well. But, personally Stanford seems too hard to resist!

Looking forward to your replies...

Thank You!

I would say it would depend on YOUR interests/career goals. Which location would suit your career goals? Which program would suit your academic interests?

[Adeel]

I would say it would depend on YOUR interests/career goals. Which location would suit your career goals? Which program would suit your academic interests?

Yeah, of course! I believe Stanford MS&E offers me more flexibility and more in line with my academic goals.

However, I'd like to know your (US residents/citizens) perspective (I have no clue which is a more favorable location, employment wise) I would want to work after my degree, most likely outside the US. Which is more recognised internationally?

[RoboTicks]

Hi All,

I have recently been accepted into the Masters' program in IE dept at Gatech(GT) and Vatech(VT).

And now i have to decide which school to choose.please help..

my profile is listed in my account info. I dind not apply to really cool schools like Stanford, MIT and Cornell because the costs there would have been extremely high.

1. Both the schools have almost similar costs for the two yr program..on paper cost of attendance at GT(Atlanta) is ~65K and at VT (Blacksburg) is ~62K.

2. The respective locations are Atlanta(large town) and Blackburg(relatively smaller university town). Will this have a bearing on the kind of jobs offered? Where do I have better options for getting a good job?

3. My research interests are more into production systems and manufacturing rather than OR and stats(GT specialization). VT seems to have more faculty working in production systems and robotics. While GT IE program is more specific for OR and Logistics, VT offers a good bouquet.

4. The IE dept of GT is extremely LARGE while VT is modest in these terms. So if I do have a change of interest that I might have more options at GT than at VT. But this also means that GT is adamant not to fund masters' students in IE program by giving them RA's and TA's. while VT might have better options.

5. Further I am highly interested in PhD. I did not apply to PhD in these programs becuase I was misled into believing that getting into PhD is very tough for international students and then you might not even get the masters' spot. Hence I applied to the masters' program. Now first going ahead with masters' program, I will have to take some loans from my home country. And then I will not be able to go on to PhD straight after masters' since I need to repay.....

Is it possible to ask the graduate program cordinator at both the places to consider my application for PhD programs at this point of time. Will it be worth it?? Plus would I even get a consideration.

I have also applied to PURDUE, Penn State and Texas A&M in masters' I am hopeful of admits there as well. Since the decision in any of these places isnt made, should I inform these departments to consider me for PhD or dont consider me at all (Since IMO , speaking in terms of ranking, costs and return on investment-- GT=VT>PSU>PURDUE>TAMU)

6. I am an international student from India. and both the places have good numbers of familiar people. further i am open to meeting new people. I guess socializing scene is almost equivalent at both places.

Please help me decide.

Thanks for your time.

[dasgut]

Does the 65k for 1 yr at Stanford include living expenses?

[Adeel]

Does the 65k for 1 yr at Stanford include living expenses?

It's 65k for 9 months (3 quarters), and 86k for the year (incl. summer)

Cornell is 57k for 9 months and 67k for the year.

GA Tech seems to be lesser. Their website is confusing!

[floyd]

5. Further I am highly interested in PhD. I did not apply to PhD in these programs becuase I was misled into believing that getting into PhD is very tough for international students and then you might not even get the masters' spot. Hence I applied to the masters' program. Now first going ahead with masters' program, I will have to take some loans from my home country. And then I will not be able to go on to PhD straight after masters' since I need to repay.....

Is it possible to ask the graduate program cordinator at both the places to consider my application for PhD programs at this point of time. Will it be worth it?? Plus would I even get a consideration.

I have also applied to PURDUE, Penn State and Texas A&M in masters' I am hopeful of admits there as well. Since the decision in any of these places isnt made, should I inform these departments to consider me for PhD or dont consider me at all (Since IMO , speaking in terms of ranking, costs and return on investment-- GT=VT>PSU>PURDUE>TAMU)

Gatech has a great reputation among faculty in the US. However if you are interested in a Ph.D., you must do a thesis masters. That is the only way that PhD programs will respect your degree. You advisers were not completely wrong, admission into master's programs is much less competitive versus PhD programs. Chances are if schools have not accepted you into the masters program yet, they will not consider your switch to Ph.D.

Most student loan providers in the US delay payment until you have finished school, i.e. you could get a Ph.D. without paying off loans yet.

I would say that your RoI rankings are off. I would say that more or less GT>VT=PSU=PURDUE=TAMU among IE faculty. All are larger state schools with good engineering programs with large faculty, but GT has the largest program with a great engineering program. Also, production is a major focus at all of those schools, so you made the right choice.

Best of Luck

Edited March 13, 2010 by floyd

[RoboTicks]

@floyd: Thanks a lot

Are these loans available to International students without collateral in US.

Further, I am also leaning towards GT as final destination due to combination of factors like faculty, reputation, location et al.

Thanks.

@others: more opinions are also invited.

[pittman]

Yeah, I am debating between Stanford (63k) and a cheaper but high profile program (37k) in OR right now. MS&E is a big program with more than 250 Masters students at any one time. I think you have to ask yourself what you are looking to get out of the program. I looked through the job placements for MS&E and it is pretty impressive, especially if you want to go into management consultancy (McKinsey, BCG, Bain, etc). Obviously, entrance into the program will only give you the opportunity to interview for these firms and the degree by itself won't get you a job anywhere. Personally, I have decided to go to grad school because I go to undergrad at a big public research school that isn't exactly on the radar of a lot of the finance/consultancy firms I am interested in. Thus, I am willing to pay for a year of grad school if it means that I will have the opportunity to network and apply to a wider pool of employers than are available to me now.

I am leaning toward the cheaper program because I have come to realize that both schools have excellent career centers and attract the same employers to their campus. The only reason I would choose Stanford at this point is if I were interested in getting into tech (i.e. you have a BS in Computer Science and want to work at Google). Otherwise, if you are more interested in finance I would go to Columbia/Cornell and if you are more interested in management consultancy, then I'd just pick the most affordable option while making sure that those firms hire from that school (i.e. Georgia tech, which attracts all of the big consultancy firms and is far cheaper than Stanford).

Thanks a lot seadub! .. My confusion is not yet resolved since I also have a job with Bain & Co which I will have to forfeit if I take up paying $65k-87k for MS in MS&E. Does the brand of Stanford really matter that much in life to shell out all that money? Also is it likely that the placements of the MS&E are overshadowed by their business school placements? I would like to get into a tech profile but Im still not decided on that( or am I supposed to be? )... Would you ( or anybody else) have any idea about the actual quality of MS in MS&E program? since they seem to be enrolling a LOT of students this year... Or is IE in Purdue better? ( and cheaper)

Thanks a ton!

[martizzle]

If a school like Cornell denies your PhD app, and offers to consider your app for the M.Eng program, what are the chances you will get in?

[testarossa]

Thanks a lot seadub! .. My confusion is not yet resolved since I also have a job with Bain & Co which I will have to forfeit if I take up paying $65k-87k for MS in MS&E. Does the brand of Stanford really matter that much in life to shell out all that money? Also is it likely that the placements of the MS&E are overshadowed by their business school placements? I would like to get into a tech profile but Im still not decided on that( or am I supposed to be? )... Would you ( or anybody else) have any idea about the actual quality of MS in MS&E program? since they seem to be enrolling a LOT of students this year... Or is IE in Purdue better? ( and cheaper)

Thanks a ton!

I am going to master hoping to get into Bain or similar consulting firms .... but you are already in. I would definitely not forfeit the job. It would make it a lot easier getting into top MBA programs if you want to in the future.

Edited March 13, 2010 by testarossa